Capital allocates funds for Lunar New Year lights

Update:
December, 19/2013 - 09:05

|

Lights brightened up Dien Bien Phu Street in Ha Noi last year. The capital city will spend almost VND11 billion (US$519,000) on decorative lighting for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday season this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Thanh Giang

HA NOI (VNS) — The capital city will spend almost VND11 billion (US$519,000) on decorative lighting for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.

Le Van Duc, deputy director of the capital city's Department of Construction, said they plan to provide round-the-clock lighting decoration for all major streets in the city during the holiday period.

Extra lighting systems will also be installed in the heart of the city, the area around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake.

The city's People's Committee has asked the department to complete installation of the lighting systems by January 15, 2014, more than two weeks before the holiday, which falls on January 31.

The committee has also approved a 2014–20 investment plan worth VND3 trillion ($141 million) that the city will use to upgrade existing lighting systems and install new ones.

It will spend the largest amount, VND1.7 trillion ($80 million), on installing new lighting systems at around 200 public places in districts and towns across the city.

Duc said that about 75 per cent of the city's wiring for lighting systems is old and not very safe to use. About 19 per cent of light bulbs are also old, resulting in ineffective lighting and wastage of electricity, he said.

He said city authorities expect to equip all urban roads and 80 per cent of residential areas in the city with lighting systems by 2020. —VNS